For
the past two seasons, the Cumberland Cobras and Gloucester
Hornets U16 regional girls teams have battled each other
for supremacy of the Eastern Regional Soccer League (ERSL).

The
latest chapter in their ongoing rivalry played out in
the recent ERSL Cup finals. The Cobras had beaten the
Hornets twice on their way to winning the ERSL regular
season championship this year, while a third game between
the two teams ended in a draw.

The
Gloucester Hornets pose with the ERSL Cup and championship
banner after defeating the Cumberland Cobras on penalty kicks.
Fred Sherwin/Photo

Last
year the positions were reversed. The Hornets won the
regular season title by three points over the Cobras,
but fell short in their quest for the ERSL Cup which was
ultimately captured by their rivals.

To
say the Hornets were due heading into the U16 ERSL Cup
final on Sept. 17 is a massive understatement. The only
thing that stood in their way were the Hornets who were
attempting to finish the season undefeated.

The
Hornets took advantage of a flat Cobras team in the early
going by scor-ing the game’s opening goal in the 16th
minute on a well-placed shot by Emily Hume.

Hume
would strike again 11 minutes later to give her team a
2-0 lead.

Down
but not out, the Cobras began to elevate their play after
the Hornets’ second goal which lead to a marker by Chanelle
Chaput with two minutes left to go in the half.

Chaput’s
goal came off a free kick by Cassandra Andre which Hornets’
keeper Chloe Lachance-Soulard had difficulty handling.
The rebound went straight to the Cobras’ leading scoring
who deftly steered the ball into the back of the net.

Andre
would score the equalizer 16 minutes into the second half
on a shot that sailed high into top corner.

Both
teams had excellent chances to take the lead during regulation
time, but neither team capitalized which meant the outcome
would have to be decided by dreaded penalty kicks.

Each
team took turns scoring through the first three rounds
before Hornets’ keeper Martine Lajeunesse managed to stop
the Cobras’ fourth shot.

The
game then came down to Andre who confidently stroked the
ball past Lachance-Soulard to give the Hornets the win.

The
post-game celebration was very emotional. For many of
the Hornet players who will be turning 17 next year, this
is the end of the road as they turn their focus to other
priorities like work and school.

“It’s
been a very emotional week for them,” said head coach
Chelsea Lanos. “A lot of the girls have been playing together
for years, so to be able to go out on a winning note and
especially against a team like Cumberland which has been
our biggest opponent is pretty special.”